There is a long-known relationship between sugar and cancer, but reckoning exactly how it works has proven subtle. While researchers continue the study of the relationship between the two, it stays a source of misinformation on the internet. The conclusive answer is that glucose feeds every cell in the human body and is vital to the function of your brain that the body has numerous backup strategies to keep the blood sugar level normal. Even if you do not consume any carbohydrates, your body will automatically make sugar from other sources such as fat and protein.

The notion that sugar could lead to the growth of cancer cells can lead some people to avoid food containing carbohydrates. This is detrimental for someone who is facing difficulty in maintaining weight while dealing with the side-effects of cancer treatments. Moreover, the imminent anxiety of trying to avoid sugar creates stress. Stress increases the production of hormones that further raises the blood sugar levels and restrain immune function. This may lower the potential benefits of eradicating sugar in the first place. 

Research shows that sugar’s relationship influences the growth of cancer cells to a higher level of insulin and related growth factors, this increases the risk of other chronic diseases. There are numerous kinds of cancer that contain a sufficient amount of insulin receptors, which makes them retort more than the healthy cells to the ability of insulin to promote growth.

The carbohydrates we consume are broken down into simpler sugars in the intestine where they are absorbed into the blood, raising the blood sugar levels. In response, the pancreas releases insulin which travels throughout the bloodstream and achieves numerous vital jobs such as:

Increased Depository Of Calories As Fat

Higher levels of insulin is a signal to the body that there is sufficient availability of food, and that these calories should be utilised in the growth and build reserves for the future.

Motioning Glucose To Enter The Cell

Every cell links the body through chemical signals that connect with receptors on the membrane of the cells. A series of steps starts within the cell while insulin binds to its receptors on the cell membrane. Sugar is allowed into the cell, where it is used for energy.

There is a rapid increase in the insulin levels if you consume simple carbohydrate at once. High levels of insulin lead to fall in blood sugar level which further signals the body that it is low on fuel. This activates appetite which makes you feel hungry and encourages you to eat again in order to bring back the sugar levels. While these levels are declining, you become hungry and prone to overeating. This may become a cycle with the body’s insulin, and sugar levels are varying rapidly. The extra calories you consume can cause weight gain because the surplus insulin reassures storage of fat.

Does diabetes and insulin resistance affect cancer risk?

The next question is whether the risk of cancer and prognosis is affected by Diabetes and Insulin Resistance (IR). To begin with, cancer and diabetes usually occur together often. Experts have not yet figured out the relationship between these two diseases. According to a report, it is still not clear whether the link between cancer and diabetes is direct if diabetes is an indicator of primary biological determinants that amend the risk of cancer, or whether the connection between the two is indirect and because of mutual risk factors like obesity. This report features research connecting diabetes with breast, colorectal, pancreatic, bladder, endometrial, and liver cancers. Moreover, metformin, a medication used to decline the insulin resistance in diabetic people, is being studied, for its possible advantage as a therapy for cancer.

Risk Factors For Steadily High Insulin Levels

Now coming to the risk factors, mentioned below are a few risk factors for steadily high insulin levels:

Obesity

Fat around the abdomen is metabolically active and slower the clearing of blood sugar as well as the processing of insulin signal. This can worsen genetic propensity for Insulin Resistance.

Genetic Vulnerability

Cells that are not affected by insulin message are sluggish to bring sugar into the cell. Blood sugars stay high longer, and in response, the body makes more insulin. With increased insulin, more calories are kept as fat.

Inactivity

Physical activity helps to improve the cells’ ability to utilise glucose. This helps the sugar level to be in a normal range which further helps clear excess blood sugar that would activate more production of insulin.

Blood sugar and insulin levels in lean individuals usually stay in a healthy range, indifferent of the type or quantity of carbohydrate they eat. Unfortunately, with so much tasty and high-calories food, most people do not make a concerted effort to stay active and lean.

The Bottom Line

You must avoid irrelevant anxiety by talking to your doctor about your personal risk for insulin resistance. By making a few basic changes in your diet to keep your insulin and blood sugar levels in a robust range, you can make constructive progress in your health.

You must maintain a healthy weight to control the surplus abdominal weight (the weight that is accumulated around the midsection of the body). This weight gain raises insulin resistance, and large consumption of simple sugar contribute calories, resulting in weight gain.

Stay Active! Exercise reduces insulin resistance. Research shows that active and lean people can consume a higher Glycemic Index (it is used as a measure of the effect of a particular carbohydrate on sugar levels) diet without increased risk of cancer. Moving in some way every day is crucial. Even a brisk walk can do the trick!      

Spread carbs out! Frequent, small meals balance insulin levels and help control appetite.